Toddler Water Safety and the Beach

Hey C.! We've gone to tbe beach, the Gulf, last two years with friends. 4 adult and 4 boys ages 4.5, 3, 2 and 2 (& 3.5, 2, 1 & 1 year before :). First I would have a SPOKEN agreement going at all times among the adults on the beach of who's watching who. No flotation device can match constant supervision. I know you know that, but we were really surprised when we had a very scary moment where I thought my husband had an eye on my son while he walked to the trash can, and vice versa. But he lost sight of us, just in that short distance, and went back to the wrong tent on the beach. Scariest moment of my life. On the life jacket issue, I guess I sort of have a different take on this whole issue. I think it really depends on 1. what beach you're going to and 2. your kiddos. 1. On a gentle beach with a long sloping shelf you can let them splash for quite a ways before the water even hits their knees. However, many island beaches have an almost immediate drop off and a crazy strong undertow, and you obviously wouldn't even let them near the water without holding on to them. 2. You know how they are.. If they are runners, I'd definitely have something on them, because you look away for a second and they escape, you have a safety net. However, if they have good instincts about danger and you can pretty much trust them to observe your boundaries, I think the floaties can give a false sense of security. They can get too brave and waves or undertow can pull them too far out. And those suits with floats in them are great, unless your little one is so little that they can't keep herself upright should she get in water that's too deep, since the suits are designed to keep her afloat on their tummy, face down, to learn to swim! Lastly, to reiterate what several others have said, go over and over the water safety rules, especially "don't go out deeper than your ankles/knees/waist without a grown-up." And even then, you'll be close by, watching like a hawk! The beach is an awesome vacation with little ones!

We were just at the beach with our 4 1/2, 2 1/2 and 15 mo. old. We brought our lifejackets, but didn't end up needing them. We set up our blankets and towels really close to the water. I brought a small little 1 ring swimming pool (like the kind you get at Walmart for $3 or the dollar store) and a bunch of buckets and sand toys. We filled the kiddie pool with water and they had so much fun playing with it that they weren't interested in the ocean. Have fun!

I would absolutely have them both in life jackets. That certainly doesn't replace watching them closely, but is an added safety measure should they get away from you, which the 4 year old absolutely can in a flash. Drowning is the leading cause of death in kids under the age of 3 and I don't think you can be too cautious. I would focus on having them build sand castles, etc. to keep their focus away from wanting to go in the water and re-enforce that they only go in the water with an adult.

I would bring the life vests! You can never be too cautious especially around water. I would also talk to the kids before hand about the ocean and how different it is from a pool or lake. Then set up some rules for being at the beach. Have fun!!

Hi C.
I have a niece who is 3 and loves the water. Of course she cant swim just yet either. My sister-in-law watches her like a hawk too. But you can never be too safe. She wears a life jacket, and she is a little crazy kiddo that likes the water rings......yeah she wears the water ring over her life jacket too!!! LOL she is so funny. If you dont make the 4 yr old wear a life jacket i would still make her wear arm floaties or something like that. Better safe than sorry. I hope this helps a little.

A. N

You might want to try a floatsuit - it's a traditional swimsuit with floaties built in. I've never used them, but a friend of mine was talking about how great they are.